Matthew and the Community of the Dead Sea Scrolls

This article first surveys possible parallels between Matthew and the Dead Sea Scrolls. From the survey it argues that: (1) Matthew and the community of the DSS did not seem to have a close relationship, partly because the parallels do not concern the distinctive characteristics of the DSS, and partly because the Matthaean parallels seem redactional; and that (2) various possible parallels between Matthew and the DSS (for example, the revelatory function of Jesus and the Teacher of Righteousness, interpretation of the Hebrew prophets, strict interpretation of the Law, the presence of the scribal role, the open canon and so on) seem to point to a common apocalyptic background. It can be concluded that both Matthew and the community of the DSS probably belonged to a broadly apocalyptic stream of the Judasim of the time, although they did not have a close relationship with each other.